Finance Manager

Kao (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 220,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Kao (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Malaysia is seeking a senior finance professional to lead financial reporting, planning, taxation, treasury and commercial finance functions. The role partners with Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain to drive cost optimisations and business performance.

You will oversee monthly closings, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, ensuring compliance with Malaysian standards. Strong leadership and ERP proficiency are essential for success in a multinational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent are an added advantage.
• Minimum 7–10 years of relevant experience in finance and accounting, including at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Strong background in financial accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, taxation, treasury and internal controls.
• Sound knowledge and practical exposure to management accounting, including product costing, profitability analysis, budgeting and management reporting.
• Good understanding of Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards and relevant statutory requirements.
• Experience in FMCG, manufacturing or a multinational corporation is preferred.
• Proficiency in SAP or other ERP systems, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with good commercial acumen and business judgment.
• Effective leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive, adaptable and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial reporting, controllership, planning, business analysis, taxation, treasury, risk management and commercial finance activities.
• Oversee monthly and year-end financial closing processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Review financial statements, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, provisions and stock write-offs.
• Ensure accurate reporting of business performance, including P&L, operating expenses and profitability.
• Coordinate key accounting operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and fixed assets.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, corporate policies and financial reporting requirements.
• Coordinate annual budgeting, periodic forecasts, estimates and Risk & Opportunity assessments.
• Analyse financial performance against budgets, forecasts and prior-year results, identifying variances, risks and opportunities.
• Review business profitability, product costing, pricing, marketing investments and operating expenses.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support management decisions, resource allocation and cost optimisation.
• Prepare financial analysis and management reports for local management and regional headquarters.
• Oversee corporate taxation, SST and other statutory financial compliance requirements.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, treasury activities, cash pooling and working capital requirements.
• Coordinate with auditors, tax advisers, banks and external stakeholders.
• Support financial risk management and internal controls.
• Ensure adherence to company financial policies and governance requirements.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain to support business planning and financial decision-making.
• Review product pricing, profitability, cost structures and commercial initiatives.
• Evaluate financial implications of business proposals, investments and operational initiatives.
• Provide practical financial recommendations to improve cost efficiency and business performance.
• Supervise, coach and develop finance team members; drive improvements in processes and controls.
• Promote collaboration across finance and business departments.
• Support Head of Accounting & Finance in departmental initiatives and governance.

Skills

Financial accounting

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Taxation

Treasury

Internal controls

Management accounting

Product costing

Profitability analysis

Commercial finance

Analytical skills

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline

ACCA/CPA/CIMA or equivalent (advantage)

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Lead financial reporting, controllership, planning, business analysis, taxation, treasury, risk management and commercial finance activities. This role partners with key business functions to provide accurate financial insights, support sound decision-making, strengthen financial governance and drive improvements in business performance and operational efficiency.

Key responsibilities :

Oversee monthly and year-end financial closing processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.

Review financial statements, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, provisions and stock write-offs.

Ensure accurate reporting of business performance, including P&L, operating expenses and profitability.

Coordinate key accounting operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and fixed assets.

Ensure compliance with accounting standards, corporate policies and financial reporting requirements.

2. Financial Planning & Business Analysis

Coordinate annual budgeting, periodic forecasts, estimates and Risk & Opportunity (R&O) assessments.

Analyse financial performance against budgets, forecasts and prior-year results, identifying key variances, risks and opportunities.

Review business profitability, product costing, pricing, marketing investments and operating expenses to support financial performance.

Provide financial insights and recommendations to support management decisions, resource allocation and cost optimisation.

Prepare financial analysis and management reports for local management and regional headquarters.

3. Taxation, Treasury & Risk Management

Oversee corporate taxation, SST and other statutory financial compliance requirements.

Manage cash flow forecasting, treasury activities, cash pooling and working capital requirements.

Coordinate with auditors, tax advisers, banks and relevant external stakeholders.

Support financial risk management, insurance arrangements and the implementation of effective internal controls.

Ensure adherence to company financial policies, approval procedures and corporate governance requirements.

4. Commercial Finance & Business Partnering

Partner with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain and other departments to support business planning and financial decision-making.

Review product pricing, profitability, cost structures and commercial initiatives to identify improvement opportunities.

Evaluate financial implications of business proposals, investments and operational initiatives.

Provide practical financial recommendations to improve cost efficiency and business performance.

5. Team Leadership & Process Improvement

Supervise, coach and develop finance team members to ensure timely and accurate delivery of financial activities.

Drive improvements in financial processes, reporting systems, internal controls and operational efficiency.

Promote collaboration and accountability across finance functions and business departments.

Support the Head of Accounting & Finance in departmental initiatives, financial governance and continuous improvement projects.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.

Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent are an added advantage.

Minimum 7–10 years of relevant experience in finance and accounting, including at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.

Strong background in financial accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, taxation, treasury and internal controls.

Sound knowledge and practical exposure to management accounting, including product costing, profitability analysis, budgeting and management reporting.

Good understanding of Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards and relevant statutory requirements.

Experience in FMCG, manufacturing or a multinational corporation is preferred.

Proficiency in SAP or other ERP systems, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with good commercial acumen and business judgment.

Effective leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Proactive, adaptable and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Our mission is to strive for the wholehearted satisfaction and enrichment of the lives of people globally and to contribute to the sustainability of the world, with products and brands of excellent value that are created from the consumer’s and customer’s perspective. This commitment is embraced by all members of the Kao Group as we work together with passion to share joy with consumers and customers in our core domains of cleanliness, beauty and health.

Our mission is to strive for the wholehearted satisfaction and enrichment of the lives of people globally and to contribute to the sustainability of the world, with products and brands of excellent value that are created from the consumer’s and customer’s perspective. This commitment is embraced by all members of the Kao Group as we work together with passion to share joy with consumers and customers in our core domains of cleanliness, beauty and health.